Year 10 Indonesian students from both Heathmont College and SMPN1 Karangmojo, Indonesia will be working on this Travel Bugs collaborative activity.
HC students have already registered for this login as a class and have made their passports. They are now working on the provided tasks accessible on the Travel bugs website on: http://www.travelbu.gs/
Project Information: Travelbugs Activities Profile Page
Students create their profile on TravelBUGs. On first logging in to the site students will be stepped through the following activities that contribute to completing their profile page:
• Avatar creation • Passport • All about me • Photo album
• Travel diary
Passport
Students sign a TravelBUGs Passport Charter for virtual travel and fill in poll questions. The pledge is aligned with the rules on TravelBUGs while the poll questions gather statistical travel information. In completing this activity students will gain a sense of the way they are expected to behave on TravelBUGs. They will also answer key questions about their own travel.
Avatar
Students create an avatar to represent themselves on Travelbugs. This activity reinforces the concept that children should not use personal images online. This icon created is also placed into their passport once it is applied for.
Individual Article
Students create articles about various countries. They may choose from a set of themes which align with the Victorian Essential Learning Standards and also the underpinning themes of TravelBUGs which are culture, values, diversity and beliefs. After choosing a theme children see sentence starters to help them begin their article. Students are encouraged to write articles in a variety of styles. These may include: • recount to retell past events • exposition or persuasive text to present a point of view with supporting reasons • report to provide information and state facts • narrative to tells a story or folk tale • explanation to share how and why something happens.
Collaborative Article
Students work in pairs to create articles about various countries. They may choose from a set of themes and writing styles which align with the VELS and also the underpinning themes of the site which are culture, values, diversity and beliefs. In choosing a theme children then see sentence starters to help them begin their article. In working together students learn collaboratively by sharing their knowledge on the chosen topic in order to achieve a common goal.
Comments & Rating
Students can comment on articles written by other travellers and rate the articles up or down. This method of positive peer review is a way to encourage children to behave positively. As an incentive travellers receive Travelbugs Points for positive reviews or ratings on their articles.
Country Comparison
At each country homepage a button allows students to compare the country of study with another. For example, Australia and Indonesia. This enables students to quickly access information around Geography, People, Government, Economy and Transportation to explore how different countries are similar and different.
Learning Games
Students can play a range of fun and interactive learning games. These include:
• Mix & Match - travellers match images from the TravelBUGs library with their descriptions. This game reinforces key knowledge and contemporary images of the country being studied.
• Lost Luggage - travellers must guess a word letter by letter so that the Travelbug arrives at the airport on time. Words are selected from names of cities, national emblems and places of interest reinforcing key country knowledge.
• Quiz race - travellers answer a range of multiple choice questions. This game can be played individually and collaboratively. Questions are derived from the information provided on each country page relating to geography, people, government, economy and transportation. The link provided to Compare Country can be used by students to support accessing the information required.
• Mystery Suitcase - travellers pack a suitcase with a range of items. Then other students guess the origin of the suitcase owner and their reason for travel. This provides the opportunity for students to create profiles of travellers from the past and present and explore the different reasons for travel such as emigration, refugees, holidays, exploration, work and education.
Photo Album Page
Students create a collection of images and annotate them. These can either be uploaded to the library by the child or taken from other locations, such as articles, around Travelbugs. They are able to be viewed by visitors to their site.
Travelbugs Points The Travelbugs Points are a positive incentive for travellers to complete tasks around Travelbugs. Members are rewarded for completing any activity on Travelbugs, however, miles points go up for working collaboratively with students from other parts of the world.
Travel Diary Students are prompted to write in their Travel Diary after completing an activity such as publishing an article or playing a game. The diary entries are then published on the profile page. Students can choose to write entries about real travel and virtual travel.
Messaging System
Students can connect by messaging each other on Travelbugs. The messaging system is teacher facilitated so you can choose when and with whom your students can message. The messages are recorded so you can monitor your students' conversations.
Posted by Prema Devathas, Heathmont College
Information taken from: http://www.travelbu.gs
Year 10 Indonesian students from both Heathmont College and SMPN1 Karangmojo, Indonesia will be working on this Travel Bugs collaborative activity.
HC students have already registered for this login as a class and have made their passports. They are now working on the provided tasks accessible on the Travel bugs website on: http://www.travelbu.gs/
Project Information:
Travelbugs Activities Profile Page
Students create their profile on TravelBUGs. On first logging in to the site students will be stepped through the following activities that contribute to completing their profile page:
• Avatar creation • Passport • All about me • Photo album
• Travel diary
Passport
Students sign a TravelBUGs Passport Charter for virtual travel and fill in poll questions. The pledge is aligned with the rules on TravelBUGs while the poll questions gather statistical travel information. In completing this activity students will gain a sense of the way they are expected to behave on TravelBUGs. They will also answer key questions about their own travel.
Avatar
Students create an avatar to represent themselves on Travelbugs. This activity reinforces the concept that children should not use personal images online. This icon created is also placed into their passport once it is applied for.
Individual Article
Students create articles about various countries. They may choose from a set of themes which align with the Victorian Essential Learning Standards and also the underpinning themes of TravelBUGs which are culture, values, diversity and beliefs. After choosing a theme children see sentence starters to help them begin their article. Students are encouraged to write articles in a variety of styles. These may include: • recount to retell past events • exposition or persuasive text to present a point of view with supporting reasons • report to provide information and state facts • narrative to tells a story or folk tale • explanation to share how and why something happens.
Collaborative Article
Students work in pairs to create articles about various countries. They may choose from a set of themes and writing styles which align with the VELS and also the underpinning themes of the site which are culture, values, diversity and beliefs. In choosing a theme children then see sentence starters to help them begin their article. In working together students learn collaboratively by sharing their knowledge on the chosen topic in order to achieve a common goal.
Comments & Rating
Students can comment on articles written by other travellers and rate the articles up or down. This method of positive peer review is a way to encourage children to behave positively. As an incentive travellers receive Travelbugs Points for positive reviews or ratings on their articles.
Country Comparison
At each country homepage a button allows students to compare the country of study with another. For example, Australia and Indonesia. This enables students to quickly access information around Geography, People, Government, Economy and Transportation to explore how different countries are similar and different.
Learning Games
Students can play a range of fun and interactive learning games. These include:
• Mix & Match - travellers match images from the TravelBUGs library with their descriptions. This game reinforces key knowledge and contemporary images of the country being studied.
• Lost Luggage - travellers must guess a word letter by letter so that the Travelbug arrives at the airport on time. Words are selected from names of cities, national emblems and places of interest reinforcing key country knowledge.
• Quiz race - travellers answer a range of multiple choice questions. This game can be played individually and collaboratively. Questions are derived from the information provided on each country page relating to geography, people, government, economy and transportation. The link provided to Compare Country can be used by students to support accessing the information required.
• Mystery Suitcase - travellers pack a suitcase with a range of items. Then other students guess the origin of the suitcase owner and their reason for travel. This provides the opportunity for students to create profiles of travellers from the past and present and explore the different reasons for travel such as emigration, refugees, holidays, exploration, work and education.
Photo Album Page
Students create a collection of images and annotate them. These can either be uploaded to the library by the child or taken from other locations, such as articles, around Travelbugs. They are able to be viewed by visitors to their site.
Travelbugs Points
The Travelbugs Points are a positive incentive for travellers to complete tasks around Travelbugs. Members are rewarded for completing any activity on Travelbugs, however, miles points go up for working collaboratively with students from other parts of the world.
Travel Diary
Students are prompted to write in their Travel Diary after completing an activity such as publishing an article or playing a game. The diary entries are then published on the profile page. Students can choose to write entries about real travel and virtual travel.
Messaging System
Students can connect by messaging each other on Travelbugs. The messaging system is teacher facilitated so you can choose when and with whom your students can message. The messages are recorded so you can monitor your students' conversations.
Posted by Prema Devathas, Heathmont College
Information taken from:
http://www.travelbu.gs